Let's Move Blog

"We sought a way for youth to have a place to meet and compete, and it’s turned into a total community thing,” says Riyaaz Jivraj, on the power of sports to excite passion and bring his jamaat, or community, together. What began as a sports activity to connect a community of Khoja immigrants, mostly young Muslim men from East Africa, has grown to become regional and national sports tournaments.

Posted by Jessica Fern, Fall Intern, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on November 15, 2011

As refugee families in the United States begin to assimilate into mainstream American culture, their eating habits similarly evolve, reflecting a departure from their traditional customs. The result of this shift can be alarming, as obesity rates and other negative health outcomes soar in these particularly vulnerable communities.

Recipe courtesy of the White House Kitchen
The best part about this pizza recipe is you can use whatever vegetables you have around your kitchen — and each family member can customize their slice before you bake. Make an easy whole-wheat crust, and start mixing and matching cheese and vegetables from there.
Serving Size
6 servings (1/2 pizza each)
Preparation
20 minutes
Bake: 20 minutes to 22 minutes

Recipe courtesy of Chris Comerford and the White House Kitchen
No added sugar and hearty bread in place of flaky pastry crust make this dish a welcome dessert or a sweet breakfast. The White House uses raspberries and blueberries, but you can mix and match the berries you use to your liking.
Serving Size
Makes 6 servings
Cook Time
Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 18 minutes to 20 minutes
Cool: At least 30 minutes

Recipe courtesy of the White House Kitchen
Part jam, part apple sauce, this smashed apples recipe is a no-sugar-added way to sweeten your favorite foods. It keeps for two weeks, so mix a large batch, and use it generously.
Cook Time
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ingredients
4 lbs. of apples
½ cup water
Directions

U.S. Representative Rush Holt (left) and USDA Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Pat Dombroski mingle with proud children showing off their school garden before tasting an eatable flower grown just a few feet away.

Posted by Jennifer Seymour, CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity on November 8, 2011

Check out the San Antonio School Salad Bars video.
“Mom, our school has a salad bar this year! And no offense Mom, but it was one of the best salads I’ve ever had,” said George Velasquez, a 12-year-old San Antonio middle school student.

Looking for some proof that making small changes in your diet and exercise routine can have big results on your waistline? The Today show interviewed three White House staffers who have whittled their middles by making smart choices about what they drink, and what they snack on during the day. Each of them says they were inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign.

Posted by Meghan Johnson, Public Health Communications Intern, National Park Service on November 4, 2011

For the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA), helping communities lead active, outdoor lifestyles, is a top priority. This summer, RTCA employees challenged themselves to complete 30 minutes or more of physical activity each day as part of a national PALA competition.

Posted by Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education on November 3, 2011

In September, I opened the pilot year of the Green Ribbon Schools award to recognize the highest performing green and healthy schools in the nation. High standards of nutrition, fitness, and outdoor time for both students and staff are among the qualifying criteria for the award.